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OHIO COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION RETIREES September 15, 2015 Minutes

STRS OHIO, Sublet Meeting Room PRESENT: Bowling Green State University: Anderson, King; Cleveland State University: Cagan, Kweder, Ramos; University of Cincinnati, Huether; Kent State University, Jerry Feezel, Jenelle Feezel; North East Ohio Medical University, Hodnichak; Ohio University: Boyd, R. Vedder; Ohio State University: Hill, Hobbs, Newsom, Sweeney, Wardwell; University of Toledo: Lapp, Pullella; Wright State University, Wolfe; Youngstown State University, Beelen. ABSENT: University of Akron, Miami University, Shawnee State University.

GUESTS: Greg Nickell and Marla Bump from STRS. Lindsey Loftus from North East Ohio Medical University. Minutes and Secretary’s Report: The minutes of the May 19, 2015 were approved with minor corrections. Treasurer’s Report: The report from the Treasurer was approved. The ending balance as of September 15, 2015 is $4,398.48.

Nancy Wardwell distributed copies of the 2014-2015 Annual Report.

OPERS – Michele Hobbs reported the following: Total Assets as of 4/30/15 was 90.7 Billion Dollars

Mitigating rate - for the year 2015 the Board of Trustees has determined there will be no change to the

employer contribution rate of 14 percent and the mitigating rate for employees of both state and local

government agencies will remain 0.77 percent. The mitigating rate is money deducted from employer

contributions to the Member-Directed and Combined plans to offset any negative impact the plans

might have on the Traditional Pension Plan. Effective Jan. 1, 2016 employer contributions equal to 1%

of member’s earnable salary will be credited to the Traditional Pension Plan. The rate will increase to

1.5% Jan. 1, 2017, and to 2% Jan. 1 2018.

Under-65 health care plan approved for 2016

Participants in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System’s health care plan for retirees

under 65 will face some increased costs in 2016 as the system adjusts to pending federal rule

changes.

Medical-plan deductibles, out-of-pocket costs and copays will rise, as will deductibles for and

the cost of many pharmaceutical products, although the out-of-pocket maximum for drugs will

decline for the nearly 50,000 OPERS retirees in the plan.

To reduce the impact of the increases, OPERS is providing a partial premium reduction over the

next three years to help retirees enrolled in our Medical Mutual plan adjust to higher costs. This

reduction does not apply to spouses, surviving spouses, dependents or re-employed retirees.

Your individual 2016 premium costs will be included in your open enrollment materials, which

we will distribute in September.

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OPERS is beginning to shift some costs to participants because of the proposed Cadillac tax

provision of the Affordable Care Act. This rule caps the aggregate value of a self-insured health

care plan and assesses a 40 percent excise tax to those entities that offer plans beyond that

amount. Without plan changes over the next three years, OPERS could face millions of dollars in

fines because of the tax.

OPERS plans to make gradual changes to its self-funded plan for retirees under 65, rather than

impose large changes in 2018.

For instance, in-network deductibles will increase next year to $1,000, and total in-network out-

of-pocket maximums will rise to $4,900. Office visit copays for primary care physicians will be

$25 instead of $20, and there will be a $100 annual deductible for generic drugs. Coverage for

those under 65 and not eligible for Medicare will encourage the use of high-value-services such

as full coverage of preventive services, lower office visit copays for medical home providers and

free generic medications for those with certain chronic conditions.

The plan will encourage participants to seek out providers whose charges are at or below

established maximum coverage levels for certain services, such as lab tests. Participants can

expect communications from OPERS and Medical Mutual later this year about which labs are

charging at or below the coverage maximum.

Other news for the under-65 plan in 2016:

Retirees participating in a diabetes disease management program will no longer receive

medications and testing supplies at no cost. The results of an independent study show that

this coverage is no longer cost-effective or having the desired outcome in terms of health

care utilization and clinical measures.

OPERS will provide a $50 incentive for eligible retirees participating in Healthy U, a

community-based chronic disease self-management program administered by the Ohio

Department of Aging’s Area Agencies on Aging.

There will be no coverage for over-the-counter heartburn medication.

The voluntary dental plan will have some slight price increases. The voluntary vision

plan will be unchanged.

Pension redesign having its intended effect

Occasionally we see misinformation about public pension systems in general, and the Ohio

Public Employees Retirement System in particular. When that occurs, we believe we must set the

record straight.

Most recently, OPERS and the other Ohio public pension systems were admonished for not

attaining progress fast enough after achieving pension redesign in 2012.

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Obviously, we disagree. Pension system performance needs to be measured over decades, not

short periods of time. The pension reforms passed by the Ohio General Assembly in 2012 and

health care changes passed by the OPERS Board of Trustees are having their intended effect

despite being in place for only three years. Our asset levels are at an all-time high of $91.2

billion due, in part, to the changes.

The myth is that all of the unfunded liabilities can be due at any one time – thus, the money is

“owed.” This is simply not true. Your home mortgage isn’t due all at once, and the same is true

of a pension system. It is illogical to assume a pension system should have cash on hand to pay

off liabilities all at once.

As a matter of fact, we monitor pension liabilities in two categories: retirees and active members.

Retiree liabilities are funded at 100% through a separate fund. What is currently being funded is

the ultimate pension liability that will eventually be due for active members that are still

working.

The amortization period is the time in which we’re required to be able to pay off our unfunded

liabilities. By state law, the public pension systems have to be able to pay off these liabilities

within 30 years. If they can’t, they need to come up with a plan to do so. Our amortization period

has never gone beyond 30 years since this requirement has been in existence, and it currently

stands at an impressive 21 years.

The “funded ratio” is a comparison of our assets to our liabilities. While full funding is an ideal

situation, it’s not accurate to say a system is struggling simply because it is not fully funded.

What’s also important is the trend – which way are we heading? The Great Recession certainly

took a toll on our funded ratio. But look where we’ve come since then. Our funded ratio dropped

to 75 percent in 2008 and we’ve trended upward since then, to our current funded ratio of 84

percent. That’s a significant improvement.

Our system is strong – not only for our members but for all Ohioans who benefit from the $6.6

billion annual economic boost we provide. OPERS’ funded status, which measures the progress of accumulating the funds necessary to meet our future obligations, increased to 83.8 percent, up from 82 percent in 2013. Our amortization period, the time within which we can pay off our unfunded liabilities, stands at 21 years- well within the 30-year window required by Ohio law and down from 24 years in 2013.OPERS’ net assets reached a record-breaking $91.2 billion as of Dec. 31. OPERS paid $5.1 billion in pension benefits and $1.7 billion in health care to more than 203,000 retired Ohioans and their beneficiaries. The average annual benefit for retired members in the traditional pension plan is only $25,030. She also distributed an article from the Columbus Dispatch. Treasurer Josh Mandel accused OPERS of trying to hide information from the public; OPERS quickly denied that. OPERS officials have continued to say that they support transparency, as evidenced by “extensive financial information” provided on the OPERS website.

August 19, 2015 OPERS Board Meeting

As of August 1, 2015 Total Assets are 89.5 Billion Dollars.

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Report from Executive Director Karen Carraher, Chief Operating Officer Blake Sherry, and Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Starr: On behalf of the OPERS Board of Trustees, management and staff, it is our pleasure to present this 2014 Summary Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. We believe all stakeholders will find the theme, Strength for our future—planted deep, growing strong, reaching high, accurately reflects the spirit of our history and our 2014 achievements. You’re invited to review our key 2014 activities: Ongoing implementation of pension changes: As a System, we must be able to fund the unfunded pension liabilities within a 30-year window. Changes implemented in 2014 from the 2012 legislation have enabled us to continue to meet that mandate. OPERS can demonstrate that both the strength of the pension fund and solvency of the health care fund have steadily improved in 2014—as was anticipated when we partnered with stakeholders to ensure the pension legislation passed. Health Care Preservation Plan 3.0: Neither mandated nor guaranteed, we know access to health care for our retirees is important for a secure retirement. While OPERS has one of the largest health care trust funds in the U.S., we recognized the need for change to ensure sufficient health care funds would be available for both current and future retirees. In 2014, we focused on initiating the OPERS Medicare Connector (Connector), a program whereby eligible retirees over the age of 65 will receive funding (based on years of service and age at retirement) to apply to the health care program of their choice with the assistance of an OPERS vendor. Analysis shows the Connector will provide the majority of the 145,000 OPERS retirees who are over age 65 with better and more affordable health care than any group program OPERS could provide. We worked throughout 2014 to ensure retirees—present and future—fully understood the changes and their impact. These efforts will continue into 2015. In addition, in 2014, OPERS established a 115 Health Care Trust to prepare to change the manner of funding health care through the Connector. Our Way Forward initiative: This technology and business process redesign will refine internal systems so that OPERS can continue to deliver superior customer service to the expanding retiree population without adding significantly to staff. In 2014, almost 77% of retirement applications were filed online, compared to only 10% prior to the initial implementation of Our Way Forward. Most importantly, about 93% of retiring members now receive their first retirement payment by their effective date. Defined contribution solutions: In 2014, the OPERS Board of Trustees approved several changes to the defined contribution plans and the Member-Directed Plan retiree medical account (MD-RMA). These changes were designed to update the defined contribution program to address various issues such as service credits in multiple OPERS retirement plans, modify health care vesting, identify a funding method for the Member-Directed Plan to complete the repayment of its start-up costs, and establish an administrative fee structure for the Member-Directed and Combined plans to ensure each plan is self-sufficient. Financial reporting standards: The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued two standards intended to improve transparency of pension-related information in financial reporting. The new standards require pension systems to allocate the net pension liability, or unfunded liability, to all contributing employers. Throughout 2014, OPERS partnered with all affected public

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employers to ensure they have all the tools necessary to help implement these standards and understand the information OPERS is providing in 2015. Targeted outreach to all stakeholders: We know our members and retirees are not pension experts and we recognize the trust placed in us to deliver on our promise of providing a secure retirement. As members and employers deposit contributions over the span of an employee’s career, OPERS has the responsibility to deliver ongoing, accurate communication about the strength of the System and the pension benefits each employee has earned. Thus, our ongoing focus on outreach is both appropriate and of incalculable importance—for us and for our members, retirees and stakeholders. Thriving in all environments: Our accomplishments in 2014 were substantial and have helped strengthen us for the future. However, we must remain alert to changes to our environment and continue to shape the organization so all branches are sturdy enough to support themselves and, therefore, support the overall strength of the organization.

Overall, 2014 was a good year and a good year is always a pleasure to report. We continued to reach high so that we can continue to deliver on our promise to all members. Our organization is strong and is shaped for ongoing growth by anticipating and acclimating to every environment. We expect to thrive in 2015, as we did in 2014. However, no one knows what any given year will bring—just as no one can control the weather. We know OPERS has been shaped to bend with any weather and that ultimately our strength will allow us to straighten and reach new heights in all environments. Our promise to our members and retirees is clear: We will not simply endure, we will continue to thrive—that’s our members’ expectation; that’s our promise; and that’s our tradition. We continue to reach high—to serve our members. We continue to work diligently to enhance the strength of the System by ongoing shaping of the System, monitoring of our environment, minimizing investment risk and monitoring expenses. Consider these results for 2014: Legislative Update and HPA Update:

STRS/HPA/Mitigation Rate – Dick hill reported the following:

1. Investment (Overall Asset Mix) 2015 YTD: $75.506 Billion, + 6.3% since June 30, 2014.

Investment Plan: 30 yr. closed amortization.

2. STRS Operating Budget – Proposed for 2015-16 is $ 95,039,800

3. New Retirement Applications – A Surge Over Last year. The current number of retirement

applications submitted continues to be similar to 2013 when STRS Ohio processed its highest

number of summer retirements. To date, the system has received 3,597 June and 1,443 July

applications as of April 30 and that is 469 more June and July retirement applications for 2015

when compared to April 30, 2013. To compare to last year, STRS Ohio received 1,233

applications in April 2014, versus 1,949 applications in April 2015. For the first four months of

2015, STRS Ohio has received 1,955 more retirement applications compared to the first four

months of 2014.

4. History of changes in the STRS Ohio mitigating rate: FY 1999-2000 – 6.00%; FY2001 – 5.76%;

FY2002-2013 – 3.50%; FY2014-2015 – 4.50%

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Mitigating Rate Sent to STRS: July 2015 5%; July 2016 5.5%. Employer Contribution Applied to Your Account: July 2015 9%; July 2016 8.5%

Legislative/Health Care, Pension, and Financial Updates

Data Breaches – Criminal Motives and Manifestations. The Los Angeles Times (4/14, Brown) reports “a

new analysis of government records, published Tuesday in the journal JAMA found that close to a

thousand large data breaches affected 29 million medical records between 2010 and 2013” (“nearly 60%

of the breaches were the result of theft”).

Health Note – Nearly ¼ of Human Genes Are Affected by Season (Circadian Rhythms).

Health Note – Divorce May Not Be Good For You.

Health Note – Prescription Medicine Costs Rose Dramatically in 2014. Number of unique specialty

drugs: 377. Of those, 107 are oncology medications; including 41 oral oncology medications.

From the June 18, 2015 STRS Board Meeting. Investment (Overall Asset Mix) FY 2015 YTD: $75.652 Billion + 7.1% since June 30, 2014 Investment Plan: 30 yr closed amortization.

The number of Service Retirement Applications Received for June and July 2015 Top 2013 Totals. Through the month of May, STRS Ohio received 3,990 Service Retirement Applications for June 2015 retirement and 2,025 applications for July 2015 retirement – total of 6015. These totals run slightly ahead of 2013, which was the peak year of retirements. For comparison, by the end of May 2013 STRS received 3,701 June applications and 1,982 July applications – total of 5,683.

Dick gave an HPA Overview. HPA (Healthcare and pension Advocates to STRS) is a forum of 11 stake-holder organizations. Although HPA has no official relationship or authority, it has provided considerable feedback to the STRS Board. In terms of cost, Lo DiOrio first established our $500 contribution level to HPA several years ago. Maintaining this support level has been highly favorable for us, since a fair share contribution (equal division of costs) is well into the four figures. As stake-holders in our STRS healthcare and pension futures, I believe our current contribution level to be a very good value.

STRS Mitigation Rate – Last year, the State Teachers Retirement Board considered an increase to the mitigating rate for the DC Plan administered by STRS Ohio. This followed a study by the system’s actuarial consultant, who calculated the mitigating rate using two methods — the first resulted in a mitigating rate of 7.2%, and the second resulted in a mitigating rate of 12.03%. The actuary strongly recommended an increase in the mitigating rate of at least 1%. Consistent with the actuary’s recommendation, and recognizing the importance of constituent support around this issue, STRS Ohio was set to compromise and consider a 1% increase in the mitigating rate — from 4.5% to 5.5%. At the same time, as a matter of law, the mitigating rate for the ARP program would also have increased. However, before the board took action on this measure, the legislature approved a moratorium on the mitigating rate applied to ARPs at 4.5%.

As you meet and consider this language today, the provision in House Bill 64 limits the ARP mitigating rate to 4.5%. STRS Ohio’s concern is that its actuary recently affirmed its recommendation from last year

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— that the mitigating rate be increased to a minimum of 5.5%. The State Teachers Retirement Board voted in April to phase in this increase over the next two fiscal years — so that the mitigating rate would become 5% on July 1 of this year and then 5.5% effective July 1, 2016. As a fiduciary to the retirement system, the actuary believes that 5.5% is an appropriate rate at this time — not 4.5%. Following the board’s action in April, STRS Ohio has been communicating this change with schools throughout the state to prepare them for the July 1, 2015, implementation of the first phase of the increase.

Projected Funded Ratio – Baseline. In 2014 the ratio was 69%. The ratio in 2024 is expected to be 80%.

Funding Policy – Estimated Historical Results for the Funding Policy Summary Score: For 1994 the funded ratio was 78.0% - funding period 30.5. For 2014 the funded ratio was 73.8% - funding period was 29.5.

Legislative/Health Care, Pension, and Financial Updates:

Health Care: Specialty medications: New Drug Approvals & Their Annual Per Patient Costs. Ten medications were approved during 2014. The highest Annual Cost (Est) is $400,000 and the lowest cost is $94,000.

Health Care Notes: 1. American adults have gotten heavier over the past 50 years. 2. When should older physicians stop practicing? The AMA is spearheading an effort to create competency guidelines for assessing whether older physicians remain able to provide safe and effective care for patients. 3. Daily nut consumption may be linked to lower risk of early death. Investigators found that “the premature mortality risk due to cancer, diabetes, respiratory and neurodegenerative diseases was lower among the nut consumers.”

State budget spending. In 1975 K-12 Education was at 40% and in 2015 was 26.1%. State-only expenditures – program as percentage of budget – in 1975. In 1975 Higher Education was at 15% and in 2015 is at 5%. State only expenditures – In 1975 K-12 Education was at 45% and in 2015 is at 42%. In 1976 Higher Education was at 15% and in 2015 is at 10%.

CEM reports improvements in service and reduction in cost for fiscal year 2014 STRS Ohio received the CEM Pension Administration Benchmarking report for fiscal year 2014, which reflected an improvement in the system’s service level score. STRS Ohio’s service score increased to 93 from 91. STRS Ohio 2016 Health Care Program by Greg Nickell, Director, Health Care Services. Greg distributed a packet of 2016 health care program changes. Health Care Subsidy – beginning in 2012, each year the current years of service health care subsidy multiplier has continued to reduce by 0.1% until the multiplier will now equal 2.1% in 2016. 2016 Aetna Medicare Plan changes. These changes continue to build incentives for seeking services from in-network providers and primary care physicians. Primary care physician – In-Network is $15 and Out-of-network is $40. Specialist physician in-Network is $25 and Out-of-Network is $55. Deductible $150 in-Network and Out-of-Network is $500. Out-of-pocket limit In-Network is $1,500 and Out-of Network is $2,500. Coinsurance percentage In-Network is 4% and Out-of-Network is 8%.

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2016 Medical Mutual plan changes. Discontinue the Plus Plan. Increase the Basic Plan’s annual deductible and coinsurance out-of-pocket limits as follows: In-Network Deductible $2,500 – Out-of-Pocket is $6,500. Out-of-Network Deductible is $5000 – Out-of-Pocket is $13,000. Basic Plan: Includes two in-network primary care visits with a $20 copayment each and no deductible. Deductible and coinsurance applied to all other visits thereafter. Note: additional preventive visits covered at 100% still available. 2016 Express Scripts plan changes. Increase deductible for covered brand-name drugs is $225. The deductible applies to all covered brand-name drugs, including specialty drugs. Increase maximum annual expense per enrollee to $4,850. The Board adopted a methodology of setting the prescription annual deductible to 63% of the standard Medicare Part D deductible limit rounded down to the nearest $25 increment. National and State Legislative Update by Marla Bump. Legislative sessions to resume on Capitol Hill. Thus far, this Congress has been fairly quiet regarding

public pensions.

At the Statehouse – Charter school bill awaits Ohio Legislature. A highly anticipated charter school

reform bill has not passed. The legislature is expected to take up that measure, House Bill 2. STRS Ohio

has been monitoring H.H. 2 as a potential vehicle for pension-related matters. Mitigating rate

legislation introduced: House Bill 311 sponsored by Rep. Kirk Schuring calls for a reduction of the

mitigating rate applied against alternative retirement plans (ARPs) until it is eventually eliminated in 30

years. The current mitigating rate is 4.5%. Consequently educators who choose to participate in an ARP

have 9.5% of the employer contribution – instead of the full 14% credited to their ARP account.

Other Ohio News - Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel sponsored legislation calling for the statewide

retirement systems to divest of holdings of companies doing business in Iran and Sudan. The legislation

didn’t pass but the five systems did agree to work to decrease their investments conducting business in

those two countries. Since 2007, STRS Ohio has reduced its holdings in these restricted corporations by

88%.

Campus Reports

The University of Akron Story

Summer 2015

Like a Shakespearian Drama, the "The University of Akron Experience' continues to movo forward

with its cast of transient, overpaid, administrators. It would he funny, if it were not so tragic. In

addition to the inherent lack of organizational history, these administrators now bring to the campus

the new mentality of "Corp-Think.' (See New York Times Magazine, Sunday, September 13, 2015.

Hiring Todd Rickle as Vice Provost and Dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology and

paying him $100,000 more than the previous Dean has become additional Issue for the

community to rant on, as well as the ambiguities of the of his curriculum vitae. He comes to the

University with employment experiences in White Hat Management and the University of Phoenix,

White Hat Management has been deeply involved in the management of charter schools in

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Ohio. The University of Phoenix has long a history in online courses and a 7% graduation rate. Yet

the University is now pushing many of its units to develop online courses.

Dean Ransom, Dean of the Honors college is another recent administrative selection by the

President that has caused much discussion in the community. (See The Devil Strip: Akron Music,

Arts, Culture; August 15, 20151 This Dean was hired over the negative recommendations of six

individuals of an 11 person search Committee. This Dean has had limited experience in the

academic community and has experienced much short term employment. For all of this Dean's skills

and talent, the President is paying her $98,000 more than the previous Dean, a man of impeccable

credentials and accomplishments.

In early July 2015 with supposed planning, the University of Akron told the community that 215 staff

positions were being cut across a various departments and areas of the University because of the

University's $40-60 million debt. The firing of the Director of the E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall and

his supporting staff essentially closed the Hall for the coming entrainment season. E. J Thomas Hall

has been a pillar to Performing Arts Community of Akron since 1973. This action put the Greater

Akron Community In shock for E. J. Thomas Hall has been the gateway portal to the University for

over 400,000 individuals per year attending the various entertainment events presented in the Hall.

These firings also essentially closed the University Press causing much alarm among the authors with

works in various stages of being published. The public was later informed that E. J. Thomas Hall had

not been closed that a skeleton staff would return to handle the Hall's previously contracted, upcoming

entertainment events and that the University Press had been placed under the administrative control

of the University libraries. To date, there has been no published program for E. I, Thomas Hail, no

box office, and no contact for the community.

An additional area of the University decimated by the firings was the Division of Student Success.

However, in the same Board Meeting that the Board approved the firings, the Board also approved

a contract for $800,000+ to outsource much of the efforts of the personnel of this Division to a

startup company, .1RUS1NAVIGATOR a company with no previous clients or experience in higher

education and at this time, no employees. The function of this company is to provide Success

Coaches for the 2015 fall incoming freshmen students of the University.

Community has been abuzz in recent months with phone calls, letters, email messages, letters-to the

editor, newspaper articles in the daily, weeklies and online newspapers, and personal conversations.

Continuing with the Corp-Think mentality, outsourcing continues to be an ongoing issue with this

administration, for the University has now outsourced much of its student dining services to outside

vendors_ In early January the University closed an RFP for the development of an online RN-BSN

program. The only bid received was from Academic Partnerships an online, for-profit company. Using

the Academic Partnerships' own faculty and program curriculum, the company would offer

throughout the world an online degree-granting program using the name of the University of Akron

and the good faith of its accreditation to give substance and validity to its program. It is not known

at the moment if the University of Akron Faculty via the Faculty Senate would be given the

opportunity to evaluate the merits of the individuals comprising Academic Partnerships' teaching

faculty. For their efforts, Academic Partnerships would retain a majority percentage of the tuition

fees.

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Just as a side thought, a retired Biology Professor, who now collects goat milk from the farmers

for delivery to the dairy for processing, informs me that there are more regulations to maintaining

the quality and integrity of his milk than there are for maintaining the academic quality and

integrity of online courses.

To add insult to iniury, the President in his rush to rebrand the University has insulted the University

Women's Committee. This rebranding of the University would change its name from "The University of

Akron" to 'The University of Akron: Ohio's Polytechnic University." The women of this committee

discovered after giving $11,600 to the University Band to provide raincoats for the Band members that

the President by administrative order had instructed not to place the name Akron on the raincoats for

the name would be replace by the letter "Z". The natural assumption is that in the future the President

plans to remove the `"Akron" from the University's formal name. The women, in turn, developed a

letter informing the University that they would withhold future funding of university projects.

This list of violations of trust continues by the clay, but is too long to continue for this writing,

In my opinion, a former Big Ten football coach would have been a very good selection for the

Presidency of the University of Akron.

BGSU CAMPUS AND RETIREES REPORT

On September 14 the Bowling Green State University Retirees Association celebrated its twentieth

anniversary with a luncheon and program featuring BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey who gave her

State of the University Report.

Last week BGSU announced that 15,566 students will attend classes in Bowling Green, up 2.1% from last

year. The freshman class of 3,392 is twelve percent larger than last year. 77.2% of last year’s freshman

class has returned to campus. The freshman average high school grade point average is 3.36 up from

3.32. The average ACT scores are 22.63. Twenty percent of the freshman are ethnically diverse. The

overall retention rate is 77.5%.

US News and World Report ranked BGSU 185 among US colleges and universities. This compares with

the Ohio State University ranking of 52; Miami University’s ranking of 82; Ohio University’s ranking of

135; and Kent State University’s ranking of 175.

Construction continues on campus with the renovation of South Hall for the School of Mass

Communications scheduled to be completed for fall, 2016 and the construction of the Greek village also

scheduled for completion at the same time. Bids will be let for the renovation of Moseley Hall soon to

house STEM labs. Plans are in process to renovate University Hall and Hanna Hall.

Cleveland State University: CSU dedicates recently completed center for innovation in medical

professions. State-of-the-art facility will foster inter-professional education within health care career

paths. More than 300 community leaders assembled at Euclid Ave. and East 22nd Street on the campus

to officially dedicate the University’s newly opened Center for Innovation in Medical Professions, a $47.5

million state-of-the-art facility designed to foster a new era of inter-professional health care education.

The 100,000-square-foot structure serves programs from the CSU School of Health Sciences and the CSU

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School of Nursing in addition to the NEOMED-CSU Partnership for Urban Health, an innovative

collaboration that establishes the first public medical school presence in the ciy of Cleveland and offers a

program that prepares physicians to practice in urban settings. The building includes simulation labs,

occupational therapy and physical therapy training rooms, the CSU Speech and hearing Clinic and CSU’s

Health and Wellness Clinic that serves students and the campus community. CSU led U.S. universities

for increases in research spending on science and engineering, according to the latest edition of The

Chronicle of Higher Education’s Almanac of Higher Education. Between fiscal years 2004 and 2013, CSU

was No. 1 in the nation for greatest increases in total research spending and greatest increases in

federal research dollars spent, up 298 percent and 684 percent, respectively. During the same period,

CSU ranked No. 12 among U.S. universities for greatest increases in corporate research dollars spent,

with a 459-percent increase. CSU marked the beginning of the Fall semester by welcoming more than

1,850 first-year students to campus, the largest-ever freshman class in the University’s history. We have

119 retiree members.

University of Cincinnati Emeriti Activities. 1. Had Second Annual Recognition and Appreciation

Banquet for New Emeriti in May. 2. Starting Second Annual Undergraduate mentorship Award for

working with Emeriti on research/scholarship ($2000 to each of two students; $1000 to each of two

mentors). 3. Finalized report to Provost in July on recommendations to change Transitions to

Retirement Procedures. 4. Established formal collaborations with Faculty Club to sponsor Five Part

Speaker Luncheon Series for 2015-16. 5. Oversaw Second Annual Bus Tour of Cincinnati for new Faculty

in August. 6. Clarified, improved, and finalized benefits for Emeriti. 7. Current budget to support

Emeriti activities at $20m000 in FY16, compared to $2,000 in FY 13. 8. Annual giving by Emeriti

averaged $1.6 million over past ten years. 9. For past year, Emeriti received 77 separate external grants,

to 41 different individuals, amounting to over $45 million in funds assigned directly to them (intellectual

credit). Emeriti were PIs on 25. 10. Coordinated Second Annual Bridge Tournament with UC Woman’s

Club in January. 11. UC Emeriti is a formal member of the Association of Retired Organizations in

Higher Education (AROHE). 12. Working with Provost and president to develop new administrative

structure for Emeriti Association. 13. Working with university and private developer to consider

creation of a University Linked Retirement Community (ULRC) such as at Dennison and Oberlin now

have.

Kent State University. 1. We are now the Kent State University Retirees Association (KSURA). Two

years ago we established a Constitution and Bylaws including Faculty, Staff and Spouses as members. 2.

We now have a tax deductible account at the KSU Foundation to donate for Scholarships in the bname

of the association. 3. We are updating the Association Webpage. 4. We have asked Institutional

Advancement for off/lounge space in the new building in exchange for our involvement in Development

fundraising. 5. We are considering establishing KSURA as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit org. This would make

dues or contributions tax deductible (our operating expenses can run $500-600 a year).

Miami University. Miami will be going through a presidential search process this fiscal year. The

process is just beginning with campus open sessions. Miami had record incoming enrollment this year

of 4,002 incoming first year students following an 8.5% increase in applications to 27,500. The Retiree

groups have added additional activities on campus to include sporting events, faculty lectures in

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additional to an annual holiday dinner. In addition, we are partnering more intentionally with our

Institute of Learning in Retirement to expand programming to our local retirees. We have 1824 retirees,

spouse of retirees – current and surviving. We don’t have a membership program. We have two groups

– Society of Miami Emeriti and Society of Miami Retirees.

North East Ohio Medical University. Have 156 retirees. Held an annual Dinner in July. Upcoming is a

Holiday Luncheon. Have a $40 million dollar campaign.

Ohio State University. Membership is about 3200, 3000 paid (a little over half are lifetime members)

plus 200 complementary (first year membership is free).

Summary report for OSURA:

We had a meeting with Legal Affairs to make sure our disclaimer form for trips passes muster (it did).

We have a meeting with senior HR personnel on 22 September and a meeting with President Drake next

spring. Our annual fall conference is on 16 September 2015, with about 340 registered (and about 60

had to be turned away to keep within room capacity). We just set up a quasi-endowment with the

University, with $50,000 deposited in it. Our monthly Newsletter continues as the main method of

keeping in touch with members. Fall activities are starting up (dinner series with speaker, informal

breakfast, hiking in metro parks, litter pickers, bridge club, and photography; our lunch series starts next

month). We continue our cultural arts and travel committees, with a successful trip to the National

Museum of the Great Lakes last week. We visited Roscoe Village and Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island in

July, and Amish Country and Stratford Festival in Canada (5 days) in August. We plan a trip to

Scandinavia next summer.

Summary report for OSU:

The first-year retention rate was over 93% for the most recent year available (students returning in

autumn 2014). The most recent data show a five-year graduation rate of 80% and a six-year graduation

rate of over 83%. These numbers were much lower several decades ago. President Drake announced

another freeze on tuition and room and board for in-state students, with increased need-based grants.

Administrative units will have budget cuts and we’re waiting to see how this works. New large dorms

are being constructed as OSU moves to requiring both first and second year students to live on campus.

The medical area continues to grow, and now employs more people than the rest of the university.

Ohio University. We have a $450 million capital campaign. We have two campuses – one in Cleveland and one in Dublin. The president’s house is infested with bats. THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO. On August 26 The University of Toledo and ProMedica health system signed an academic affiliation agreement linking the institutions together for the next 50 years. Also happening last month, UT signed a $4.5 million agreement with Coca-Cola, switching the University from a Pepsi to a Coke campus. Dr. Sharon Gaber will be inaugurated as the University’s 17th (and first female) president on Sept 25th. Enrollment figures show that, while UT student retention increased, student headcount dropped this Fall by a total of 301 students (mostly at the graduate level). The Rockets upset the No. 18-ranked University of Arkansas Razorbacks in Little Rock on September 12. On

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the academic front, UT student-athletes won the 2014-15 MAC Institutional Academic Achievement Award (for the third time in the last four years). Additionally, the women’s basketball team ranked in the top 25 nationally in team GPA (one of three MAC schools to be so recognized).

Wright State University Retirees Assoc. Rich Johnson has resigned from the council due to ill health. Richard Williams will join the council to replace him. The university president’s house was destroyed by a fallen tree. The university is working its way through a scandal involving misused visas. Youngstown State University. Youngstown State University Retirees Association (YSURA) serves all faculty and staff who have retired from YSU. The organization provides a valuable link between the University and former employees in the areas of retiree benefits and University events. Luncheon meetings and a variety of social activities provide great opportunities for retirees to maintain contact with former colleagues in an informal environment. The YSU Courier, our semi-annual newsletter, and our website provide information about individual members’ activities, YSURA events and current events affecting retiree pensions and healthcare. The website also contains links to the State of Ohio retirement systems websites, as well as other websites important to YSU retirees. During this year we have held several luncheons, a wine tasting and chocolate factory bus tour, a casino trip, a tour to Phipps Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh and smaller groups of retirees meet regularly for breakfast. Planned for the remainder of the year are trips to Pittsburgh to see a Broadway Show, The Carol King Musical in October and The Cathedral of Learning in December. YSURA has a mailing list of 854, with 300 plus paid members. Enrollment decline for the university has leveled off; freshman enrollment up by 17%. Submitted by Michele Hobbs Secretary, OCHER